Page 49 - Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting

tal’dorei campaign guide
Among the fluted white bones, serenaded by siren’s call,
I did bury my treasures, one and all.
but the most desperate as impassable, the rumors of what
But deaf and blind must the finder be, lest a briny death be secrets lay sunken or hidden within the channel only con-
the last ye see. tinue to spread and grow.
—From a fragment of a treasure map
shearing channel adventures

Scion of oblivion
For epic-level characters: The Chained Oblivion has no
the salted bluffs physical form, but some residue of its power was cast
into the ocean when the Dawnfather pursued it from the
Alabaster Sierras to Gatshadow. This seed of evil has had
The tumultuous waters of the Lucidian Ocean that encom-
eons to gestate in the tempestuous womb of the sea—and
pass the northeast edge of Tal’Dorei end at the towering
now it rises. A kraken, mutated by the Oblivion’s aberrant
seaside cliffs called the Salted Bluffs. These cliffs mark the
power, is haunting the Shearing Channel; the flesh and
outside of the Alabaster Sierras, housing an endless series
minds of sailors fuse to their ships, sea creatures hideously
of cliffside caverns that drop off into the ocean, sometimes
mutate into humanoid abominations, and the clouds above
hundreds of feet up. The waters along the base are rocky
rain thick, ichorous black droplets. It seems to be building
and dangerous to traverse by boat, and only the most skilled
an army here for some larger attack. What is it planning?
of captains will even consider travel nearby. Due to their
treacherous nature, many outlaws and seafaring pirates
whitestone
have taken to these bluffs to hide away their riches, or build
a base of operations. However, a dense colony of harpies
found the coastline perfect for their lifestyle and hunting
Small City • Population: 4,230
techniques, often sweeping up unsuspecting creatures and
(83% Human, 7% Halfling,
dashing them against the cliffs and rocks, recovering the
6% Dwarven, 4% Other Races)
broken corpses to feed upon safely within their nests.
Nearly two hundred years ago, the de Rolo family
salted bluffs adventures helmed an expedition from Wildemount to the shores of
Tal’Dorei. When their vessel wrecked upon the stones of
ye’d beSt Start believin’ in ghoSt StorieS the Shearing Channel, the de Rolos and their remaining
For low-level characters: Pirates are one thing. Undead crew survived for weeks in the Alabaster Sierras despite
pirates are another. A group of swashbucklers have will- the tempestuous weather and slavering beasts. After a
ingly turned themselves into the Chamber of Whitestone, time, they stumbled upon a glowing tree—the majestic
begging for absolution from the Dawnfather for thieving. Sun Tree, a blessing from the Dawnfather himself—and
They refuse to return to their cove to retrieve their stolen built their home around it.
treasure from the bones of not just their risen comrades, Since then, the de Rolo’s pioneering settlement has
but the undead that first killed them. Perhaps a group of grown into a robust, if isolated, city. The cityscape varies
adventurers can save the day? from quaint homesteads to dingy hovels, and the majority
of the populace sits somewhere in between. Limited in
crow’S neSt fertile farm land, locally grown produce is scarce, leading
to the necessity to develop a good trade relationship with
For low-level characters: The Ashwing harpy tribe that
the rural communities of the Turst Fields.
roost among the Salted Bluffs have recently comman-
Though the region’s scarcity of vital resources made
deered the galley owned by the group of penitent corsairs
for a harrowing first few years, the de Rolo family stum-
and starting raiding coastal villages. They are led by Cap-
bled upon a miraculous mineral they called whitestone.
tain Silvercomb, an arrogant, dashing, and well-spoken
This geological marvel both gave their city its name
harpy grandmother. The other harpies are just pillaging
and quickly became its most important and sought-af-
for fun, but Silvercomb seems to be searching for some-
ter export. Before long, the de Rolo’s sale of whitestone
thing, and she always wears a pendant with a black feather
allowed them to quickly amass a significant fortune and
around her neck. What could it be?
construct a princely keep within their city.
the shearing channel scars of the briarwoods
Lady Delilah and Lord Silas Briarwood are no more, but
Where once was a land bridge between what are now the evil they committed still lingers. The six years they
known as Tal’Dorei and Wildemount, the catastrophic ruled Whitestone sapped life and hope from its people.
forces of the Calamity eroded it away, leaving jagged Though homes have been rebuilt and the Briarwoods’
rock, winding rapids, gale-force winds, and broken cliffs. undead monstrosities have been eradicated, the trauma of
Numerous ships have been ruined against the tides of the the vampires’ reign of terror will linger for generations.
channel, and sea creatures that thrive on wreckage have Some people of Whitestone were so deeply affected that
taken up residence beneath the waters. Considered by all they turned to necromancy themselves, and have fled into

48 chapter 2: gazetteer of tal’dorei